ENM – Page 5 – European Neighbourhood Monitor

Belgium’s Health Care Battles: When Welfare States Tighten Control

By Pieter Cleppe In Belgium, the debate over the future of the welfare state has found a focal point: Frank Vandenbroucke (picture). The veteran socialist, who serves as Belgium’s federal health minister, has become emblematic of how Europe’s welfare systems, under intense financial strain, are turning to centralised and coercive measures to impose savings and […]

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Controversy Over EU Deforestation Rules Continues

Indopacific / ENM

The European Union has recognised the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification as a credible standard to help companies comply with its new deforestation regulation, Malaysia’s certification body has announced. However, this recognition does not confer the “low risk” classification granted to U.S. commodities, leaving a two-tier system in place for the EU’s trading partners.

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Poland Launches First Freight Train from Warsaw to China, Enhancing Trade Connectivity

Trade / ENM

Poland has inaugurated its first freight train service from Warsaw to China, marking a significant step in strengthening trade ties between Europe and Asia. Operated by PKP Cargo Connect, the state-owned Polish rail freight company, this new route is expected to facilitate the export of European goods, including furniture, footwear, ski equipment, and playground gear,

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Geopolitical Challenges Surround the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Deal

Caucasus / ENM

The peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, brokered by the United States, has faced criticism from various quarters, including Russia, Iran, and certain Armenian diaspora groups. Russia’s Concerns Russia has expressed dissatisfaction with the agreement, accusing the West of attempting to “usurp” the peace deal and align it with its own interests. This sentiment is

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UK and EU Watch Closely as Russia’s Alleged Antarctic Oil Discovery Sparks Global Concern

Arctic / ENM

The United Kingdom has raised alarms over what it fears may be a covertly strategic Russian oil find in Antarctica. According to testimony to the UK Environmental Audit Committee in 2024 and again in 2025, researchers aboard Russia’s Aleksandr Karpinskiy vessel are believed to have identified approximately 511 billion barrels of oil—nearly double Saudi Arabia’s

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EU-US Framework Agreement Eases New EU Deforestation Rules

Trade / ENM

In a significant development for transatlantic trade and environmental policy, the European Union has formally recognized that “production of the relevant commodities within the territory of the United States poses negligible risk to global deforestation”, according to a joint framework agreement publicly released by the White House on August 21. This acknowledgment represents a strategic

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Kazakhstan Overtakes Russia and China in GDP Per Capita

Central Asia / ENM

Kazakhstan is on track to become the wealthiest country in the post-Soviet space in terms of GDP per capita, according to the latest figures from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Central Asian nation’s GDP per capita is expected to reach $14,770 in 2025, surpassing Russia’s $14,260 and China’s $13,690. Turkmenistan follows at $13,340. Other

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Russia Moves Forward with Major Uranium Development in Eastern Siberia

Eastern Europe / ENM

Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, has officially begun development of the Shirondukuyskoye uranium deposit in Eastern Siberia, situated near the city of Krasnokamensk — commonly known as Russia’s “uranium capital” — close to the borders of China and Mongolia. The project is expected to yield its first uranium by 2028, according to the company’s mining

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Kazakhstan and Turkey Advance Strategic Ties

Central Asia / ENM

Kazakhstan and Turkey have taken steps to deepen their partnership following Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Ankara, signaling a shift toward broader strategic cooperation in Eurasia. The visit resulted in binding agreements and infrastructure commitments, reflecting an agenda that extends beyond cultural exchange or basic trade relations. Bilateral Cooperation Gains Structural DepthOfficials from

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A Crisis of Trust

European Union / ENM

How the EU’s NGO Funding Machine is Losing Public Confidence By Pieter Cleppe Once hailed as the world’s most trusted institutions, NGOs have seen their credibility erode. Two decades ago, the Edelman Trust Barometer ranked NGOs above corporations, governments, and media. Today, businesses are more trusted than NGOs. This shift isn’t accidental—it’s the result of

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Author name: ENM